Former guards in Wisconsin prisons and family members of people incarcerated there urged lawmakers Tuesday to address what they said were systemic problems within the state’s prison system going back years, the Associated Press reports.
They detailed allegations of sexual harassment by supervisors, retaliation against prison guards who speak out, and abuse of inmates. Many called for creating an independent ombudsman office to investigate complaints.
The hearing came two weeks after a guard was killed at the state’s youth prison and a month after multiple staffers at a maximum security adult prison were charged in connection with two inmate deaths.
The Wisconsin Department of Corrections was not invited to testify at Tuesday’s hearing, Secretary Jared Hoy said in a letter to the committee; however, he said the department was listening and “will continue to take action for the betterment of our institutions, safety of our staff, and the well-being of those who are in our care.”
Hoy described the past several weeks as “challenging” and said the agency continues to improve safety, including through additional training and security audits. He also said the department is working to bring in a national consulting and management organization to examine the state’s restrictive housing and other practices and recommend improvements.
